“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. “ Psalms 90:12, KJV
In a few weeks I will be turning 60 years old. Approaching this milestone has provoked some soul searching and reevaluation. I don’t know if God will give me 25 more years or 25 more seconds! I think I have usually done a fair job of investing my life for Him and redeeming opportunities, but only fair, I could have done better. I regret that. I seek to repent of the failures, the selfishness, the short sightedness. Grace to move ahead with better focus and more child like trust in God seems to be my number one need as I look ahead to how ever much time God grants.
Up to now, God has blessed me with excellent health and strength. I know that can be snuffed out in an instant – I’ve seen it happen to others. In such extremely uncertain economic times I figure if God continues to bless me with health I can work full-time another 10 – 15 years, if work stays available. Serving in small churches has not allowed building any retirement to speak of. But I am trusting God will somehow provide, as He always has. I fear we may be entering a time in which those who have built substantial retirements may be no better off than those of us who have not. The markets may continue to slide. The dollar could become virtually worthless. BUT WHATEVER HAPPEN GOD WILL STILL PROVIDE FOR HIS CHILDREN! Any suffering He allows (physical, emotional, economic) will be designed for our good to shape us more like Jesus (Romans 8:28 is still on the books!)
I had the privilege of preaching every Sunday for most of 30 years and off and on the past 10 years. (I still hope the Lord will choose to give me a full time pulpit again!) Looking back on many poor sermons and hopefully a few good ones, the core of the burden God laid on my heart is this: God’s children need to seek Him with all their hearts and stop the silly games we too often play! Open your heart to His love and grace in Christ Jesus. Take your sin more seriously than you take your neighbor’s sin. Beg for the grace to live in a way that honors and pleases the Father, Son , and Holy Spirit!
Doctrine and theology are important. The outward forms of how we worship are not insignificant. But what is essential is faith and relationship with God. That starts with trust in the simple Gospel: Our destiny will be determined by whether we are trusting in Jesus Christ or not. He is God who became man, lived a sinless life, died on the cross for all the sin of every person who will turn from their sin trust in Him and believe He is risen from the dead. Whether it is you or I, or the Pope or Billy Graham, all that will count at that moment is whether we are trusting that simple Gospel. (Turning from sin doesn’t mean being perfect or sinless. It means agreeing with God your sin IS sin, it ain’t acceptable, and you seek His help to stop it!)
But that is just the essential beginning! Our Father earnestly desires that we grow in worship, in heart knowledge of Him (see John 4:23, 24; Philippians 3:10).
When God takes me home I hope that the few who remember me and care will think something like this, “He tried to point others to Jesus.”
Peace!
